Foundation shock eliminator

ABSTRACT

A foundation shock eliminator for buildings or machines to dissipate or eliminate shock energy includes an upper block, a lower stationary base, a roller and an energy damping coating. The upper block and the lower stationary base have respectively a concave inner surface. The concave inner surfaces face each other. The roller is mounted between the concave inner surfaces. The energy damping coating dissipates the shock energy and is covers at least one of the surfaces of the upper block, the lower stationary base and the roller. Consequently, the foundation shock eliminator will aid the buildings or the machines to resist both vertical and horizontal shocks and diminish the shock effects to the buildings or machines. The energy damping coating will keep the entire foundation shock eliminator from being unstable whether or the foundation shock eliminator is subjected to shocks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foundation shock eliminator, and more particularly to a foundation shock eliminator that introduces a moveable, passive damping element to dissipate shock energy efficiently.

2. Description of Related Art

Vibration control and shock reduction are fundamental concerns in the construction of buildings, machines and industrial manufacturing instruments. Diminishing the effect of shocks on objects is achieved primarily by isolating the shocks or absorbing the shocks.

In electronic industries, manufacturing electronic products such as semiconductor wafers and integrated circuits uses sophisticated processes that must be kept stable. Shocks will influence the fabrication of the electronic products adversely. Therefore, reducing the effect of shock on manufacturing machines in electronic industries is always an important concern.

A conventional foundation shock eliminator in accordance with prior art is generally mounted under the foundation of machines or buildings. The conventional foundation shock eliminator is made of steel and comprises an upper block, a lower stationary base and a roller.

The upper block and the lower stationary base may be rectangular, square, round or polygonal and have respectively concave inner surfaces. The lower stationary base is fastened to the ground or floor by fasteners such as bolts. The upper block supports the foundation of the building or machines and is movable relative to the lower stationary base. The concave inner surfaces of the upper block and the lower stationary base face each other.

The roller can be a rolling ball and is mounted between the two concave inner surfaces, rolls on the concave inner surface of the lower stationary base and supports the concave inner surface of the upper block.

Consequently, the conventional foundation shock eliminator will reduce the effect of shocks transmitted to the buildings or machines when the ground or floor undergoes shocks.

However, the conventional foundation shock eliminator cannot diminish the effect of shocks transmitted through the ground or the floor enough to keep the buildings from collapsing or the machines from being influenced adversely by the shocks. Since the roller contacts each of the concave inner surfaces at a point and the concave inner surfaces are curved and slippery, the roller slips or rolls easily on the concave inner surface of the lower stationary base when no shock is applied to the foundation shock eliminator. The entire foundation shock eliminator becomes unstable because of self-induced displacement of the roller by the machine or the building.

Because the steel roller in a conventional foundation shock eliminator does not have any inherent damping characteristic to dissipate the shock energy, the roller will slide easily on the concave inner surface of the lower stationary base. The roller will be displaced with a large displacement on the concave inner surface of the lower stationary base when the foundation shock eliminator reduces shock transmitted to the machines. The conventional foundation shock eliminator cannot dissipate the shock energy efficiently so the undiminished shocks may damage the buildings or the machines.

Moreover, the conventional foundation shock eliminator only reduces the horizontal component of shocks and does nothing to reduce the vertical component of shocks. Therefore, the applications and usage of the conventional foundation shock eliminator are restricted.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an improved foundation shock eliminator with an energy damping coatings with an inherent damping characteristic to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a foundation shock eliminator with a damping element to efficiently dissipate shock energy to reduce the effect of shock on machines and buildings.

A foundation shock eliminator in accordance with the present invention to dissipate or eliminate shocks transmitted to buildings and machines includes an upper block, a lower stationary base, a roller and an energy damping coating. The upper block and the lower stationary base have respectively concave inner surfaces that face each other. The roller is mounted between the concave inner surfaces, rolls on the concave inner surface of the lower stationary base and supports the concave inner surface of the upper block. The energy damping coating dissipates shocks and is coated on at least one of the upper block, the lower stationary base and the roller. Consequently, the foundation shock eliminator will resist both vertical and horizontal shocks and diminish the effect of shock on the buildings and machines. The energy damping coating will keep the entire foundation shock eliminator from being unstable whether the foundation shock eliminator does or does not undergo shocks.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an operational side view in partial section of a foundation shock eliminator in accordance with the present invention mounted on a raised floor system;

FIG. 2 is a side view in partial section of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 1 with a first embodiment of an energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 2 with a second embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view in partial section of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 2 with a third embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view in partial section of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 2 with a forth embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view in partial section of a second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view in partial section of the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 6 with a fifth embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view in partial section of the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 6 with a the second embodiment of the energy damping coating in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a side view in partial section of the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 6 with the third embodiment of the energy damping coating in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a side view in partial section of the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 6 with fourth embodiment of the energy damping coating in FIG. 5 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a third embodiment the foundation shock eliminator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view in partial section of the third embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 11 with a first embodiment of the energy damping coating in FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view in partial section of the third embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 11 with a sixth embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a side view in partial section of the third embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator in FIG. 11 with the seventh embodiment of the energy damping coating in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a foundation shock eliminator (10) in accordance with the present invention can be used to diminish shock transmitted to manufacturing machines in electronics factories, such as wafer manufacturing factories and hospital instruments.

Electronics factories generally use a raised floor system on which the manufacturing machines are mounted and people walk. The raised floor allows easy reconfiguration and gives flexibility and freedom to space design in the factories. Pipes, ducts and wires for transporting liquid and gas and conducting electricity can also be installed under the raised floor system.

The raised floor system is installed on a concrete floor (20) and comprises multiple demountable panels (22). The panels (22) are arranged in a regular manner to form a raised floor.

The foundation shock eliminator (10) is mounted between the concrete floor (20) and one of the panels (22) that supports the foundation of a manufacturing machine to isolate the machine from shocks transmitted by the concrete floor (20). The foundation shock eliminator (10) comprises an upper block (11), a lower stationary base (12), a roller (13) and an energy damping coating (not numbered). The upper block (11) and the lower stationary base (12) can be rectangular, square, round or polygonal, may be made of steel and have respectively concave inner surfaces (14) and flat outer surfaces (not numbered). The concave inner surfaces (14) face each other.

The flat outer surface of the upper block (11) is attached to the bottom of the panel (22) that supports the machine's foundation. The flat outer surface of the lower stationary base (12) is fastened to the concrete floor (20) by fasteners such as bolts. The roller (13) can be a ball or a cylindrical rod and is movably mounted between the concave inner surfaces (14), rolls on the concave surface (14) of the lower stationary base (12) and supports the concave inner surface (14) of the upper block (11). The damping coating can be made of rubber, plastic, viscoelastic materials or frictional materials.

A first embodiment of the energy damping coating can be viscoelastic material, rubber or other resilient material and is implemented as a roller coating (15). The roller coating (15) completely covers the roller (13). The roller coating (15) increases the damping of the entire foundation shock eliminator (10), which dissipates more shock energy than a conventional foundation shock eliminator.

With further reference to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention is implemented as two surface coatings (16). The surface coatings (16) respectively cover the concave inner surfaces (14) of the upper block (11) and the lower stationary base (12). The roller (13) is movably mounted between the surface coatings (16).

With further reference to FIG. 4, a third embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention repositions the surface coatings (16) of the second embodiment of the energy damping coating to the outer surfaces respectively of the upper block (11) and the lower stationary base (12).

With further reference to FIG. 5, a fourth embodiment of the energy damping coating is a combination of the roller coating (15) in the first embodiment and the surface coatings (16) of the second embodiment of the energy damping coating. The roller coating (15) completely covers the roller (13). The surface coatings (16) cover respectively the concave inner surfaces (14). The roller (13) with the roller coating (15) is movably mounted between the surface coatings (16) on the inner concave surfaces (14).

With further reference to FIG. 6, a second embodiment of a foundation shock eliminator in accordance with the present invention comprises a modified upper block (11′), a lower stationary base (12), a roller (13) and an energy damping coating. The modified upper block (11′) has a hemispheric concave inner surface (141) and a flat outer surface (not numbered). Tne lower stationary base (12) has a concave inner surface (14) and a flat outer surface (not numbered). The concave inner surface (14) faces the hemispheric concave inner surface (141). The roller (13) rotatably supports the hemispheric concave inner surface (141) and slides on the concave inner surface (14) of the lower stationary base (12). The energy damping coating is implemented with a roller coating (15). The roller coating (15) completely covers the roller (13). Using the hemispheric concave inner surface (141) to hold the roller (13) will aid in precisely positioning the roller (13) relative to the upper block (11′).

With further reference to FIG. 7, a fifth embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention is used with the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator and is implemented with a roller coating (15) and an inner surface coating (16). The roller coating (15) completely covers the roller (13). The inner surface coating (16) covers the concave inner surface (14) of the lower stationary base (12) on which the roller (13) rolls.

With further reference to FIG. 8, the second embodiment of the energy damping coating used with the first embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator can also be used with the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator and is implemented with two inner surface coatings (16, 16″). The inner surface coatings (16, 16″) cover respectively the hemispheric concave inner surface (141) in the upper block (11′) and the concave inner surface (14) in the lower stationary base (12). The roller (13) can roll on the inner surface coating (16) on the concave inner surface (14) and abuts the inner surface coating (16″) on the hemispheric concave inner surface (141).

With further reference to FIG. 9, the third embodiment of the energy damping coating used with the first embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator can also be used with the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator with surface coatings (16′) covering respectively the outer surface of the upper block (11′) and the lower stationary base (12).

With further reference to FIG. 10, the fourth embodiment of the energy damping coating of the first embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator can also be used with the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator and is a combination of the first and second embodiments of the energy damping coating. The fourth embodiment of the energy damping coating used with the second embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator comprises a roller coating (15) and two inner surface coatings (16, 16″). The roller coating (15) completely covers the roller (13). The inner surface coatings (16, 16″) cover respectively the hemispheric concave inner surface (141) in the upper block (11′) and the concave inner surface (14) in the lower stationary base (12).

With further reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a third embodiment of a foundation shock eliminator in accordance with the present invention comprises a modified upper block (11″), a modified lower stationary base (12′), a roller (13), an energy damping coating and multiple restitution elements (17). The modified upper block (11″) has a hemispheric concave inner surface (141). The modified lower stationary base (12′) has a top surface (not numbered) and an upper wall (121). The upper wall (121) protrudes from the top surface and encloses an area (not numbered). The enclosed area has a central position (not numbered). The modified upper block (11″) is mounted movably inside the upper wall (121). The hemispheric concave inner surface (141) faces the modified lower stationary base (12′). The roller (13) is a ball or a cylindrical rod, is mounted rotatably in the hemispheric concave inner surface (141) and moves inside the enclosed area on the modified lower stationary base (12′). The energy damping coating is implemented with a roller coating (15). The roller coating (15) completely covers the roller (13). The restitution elements (17) are springs or dampers and are symmetrically mounted between the modified upper block (11″) and the upper wall (121) to return the modified upper block (11″) to the central position of the area enclosed by the upper wall (121).

With reference to FIG. 13, an sixth embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention is implemented on the third embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator with two surface coatings (16′, 16″). The surface coatings (16′, 16″) are coated respectively on the outer surface of the modified upper block (11″) and the hemispheric concave inner surface (141) in the modified upper block (11″).

With reference to FIG. 14, a seventh embodiment of the energy damping coating in accordance with the present invention implemented on the third embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator is very similar to the second embodiment of the energy damping coating used on the first embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator. The seventh embodiment of the energy damping coating is implemented on the third embodiment of the foundation shock eliminator with a surface coating (16′″) on the top surface of the modified lower stationary base (12′) and an inner surface coating (16″) on the hemispheric concave inner surface (141) in the modified upper block (11″).

Therefore, the energy damping coating comprising the roller coating (15) and the surface coatings (16, 16′, 16″, 16′″) will efficiently dissipate vertical shock energy and horizontal shock energy and keep the machines or buildings mounted on the foundation shock eliminator (10) form being subjected to unattenuated shocks.

The roller coating (15) or the surface coatings (16, 16′, 16″, 16′″) keep the roller (13) from being displaced by a large magnitude whether or not the foundation shock eliminator (10) is subjected to shocks, thereby making the entire foundation shock eliminator (10) more stable. Furthermore, the energy damping coating virtually eliminates random movement of the roller (13) on the lower stationary base (12, 12′) so that the entire foundation shock eliminator (10) is stable when the foundation shock eliminator is not subjected to shocks.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A foundation shock eliminator comprising: an upper block having a concave inner surface and a flat outer surface; a lower stationary base having a concave inner surface facing the concave inner surface of the upper block and a flat outer surface; a roller movably mounted between the concave inner surfaces of the upper block and the lower stationary base; and an energy damping coating on at least one of the upper block, the lower stationary base and the roller to dissipate shock energy.
 2. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a roller coating covering the roller.
 3. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a surface coating covering at least one of the concave inner surfaces of the upper block and the lower stationary base.
 4. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy damping coating comprises an outer surface coating covering the flat outer surface of the upper block.
 5. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy damping coating comprises an outer surface coating covering the flat outer surface of the lower stationary base.
 6. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller is a ball.
 7. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller is a cylindrical rod.
 8. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy damping coating is made of rubber materials.
 9. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy damping coating is made of plastic materials.
 10. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy damping coating is made of viscoelastic materials.
 11. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy damping coating is made of frictional materials.
 12. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the energy damping coating further comprises a surface coating covering at least one of the concave inner surfaces of the upper block and the lower stationary base, and the roller with the roller coating rotatably abutting the surface coating.
 13. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the energy damping coating comprises two surface coatings respectively covering the concave inner surfaces, and the roller with the roller coating is rotatably mounted between the surface coatings.
 14. A foundation shock eliminator comprising: a lower stationary base having a concave inner surface and a flat outer surface; an upper block having a hemispheric concave inner surface facing the concave inner surface of the lower stationary base and a flat outer surface; and a roller rotatably supporting the hemispheric concave inner surface and rolling on the concave inner surface of the lower stationary base.
 15. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 14 further comprising an energy damping coating mounted on at least one of the lower stationary base, the upper block and the roller.
 16. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 14, wherein the roller is a ball.
 17. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 14, wherein the roller is a cylindrical rod.
 18. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating is made of rubber materials.
 19. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating is made of plastic materials.
 20. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating is made of viscoelastic materials.
 21. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating is made of frictional materials.
 22. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a roller coating covering the roller.
 23. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a surface coating covering the hemispheric concave inner surface and a roller coating covering the roller, and the roller with the roller coating rotatably abutting with the surface coating on the hemispheric concave inner surface.
 24. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating comprises two surface coatings covering respectively the concave inner surface and the hemispheric concave inner surface, and the roller is rotatably mounted between the surface coatings.
 25. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a surface coating covering the flat outer surface of the upper block.
 26. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a surface coating covering the flat outer surface of the lower stationary base.
 27. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 22, wherein the energy damping coating further comprises a surface coating covering the concave inner surface of the lower stationary base.
 28. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 22, wherein the energy damping coating further comprises two surface coatings covering respectively the concave inner surface and the hemispheric concave inner surface, and the roller is rotatably mounted between the surface coatings.
 29. A foundation shock eliminator comprising: a lower stationary base having a top surface, a flat outer surface and an upper wall formed on the top surface and enclosing an area with a central position; an upper block movably mounted in the area enclosed by the upper wall and having a hemispheric concave inner surface facing the top surface of the lower stationary base and a flat outer surface; multiple restitution elements mounted between the upper wall and the upper block to return the upper block to the central position; and a roller rotatably mounted in the hemispheric concave inner surface of the upper block and rolling on the top surface of the lower stationary base.
 30. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 29, further comprising an energy damping coating mounted on at least one of the lower stationary base, the upper block and the roller.
 31. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 29, wherein the roller is a ball.
 32. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 29, wherein the roller is a cylindrical rod.
 33. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the energy damping coating is made of rubber materials.
 34. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the energy damping coating is made of plastic materials.
 35. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the energy damping coating is made of viscoelastic materials.
 36. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the energy damping coating is made of frictional materials.
 37. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a roller coating covering the roller.
 38. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a surface coating covering the hemispheric concave inner surface.
 39. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the damping coating comprises a surface coating covering the top surface of the lower stationary base.
 40. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a surface coating covering the flat outer surface of the upper block.
 41. The foundation shock eliminator as claimed in claim 30, wherein the energy damping coating comprises a surface coating covering the flat outer surface of the lower stationary base. 